The latest position for August 2019 shows Staffordshire’s unemployment claimant count rate has risen from 1.8% in July to 1.9% in August, with an increase of 440 claimants. Staffordshire’s rate continues to be one of the lowest out of the 14 strategic authorities in the West Midlands, and is well below the national rate of 2.8%. Similarly, Stoke-on-Trent’s claimant rate increased to 4.2%, with a small increase of 10 on the previous month.

The Prime Minister spoke from 10 Downing Street this evening, at 6pm, pledging to fight crime, improve the NHS, support schools, cut the cost of living, and unlock talent and opportunity across the entire United Kingdom as part of our plan to get the country back on the road to a brighter future.